Coal scam: Case registered against Birla, ex coal secy

, Oct 15: CBI today registered a case against industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and former Coal Secretary P C Parekh in connection with alleged irregularities in allocation of coal blocks in 2005.

After registering the 14th FIR in the coal scam, CBI teams carried out coordinated searches at nearly six locations in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bhubaneshwar.

CBI sources said that the agency has booked Birla as a representative of Aditya Birla Group and his group company Hindalco for alleged corruption in the allocation of Talabira two coal block in Odisha, which was allotted to it on November 10, 2005.

The block was allocated for power production during the 25th meeting of screening committee, they said. "CBI registers a fresh case in alleged irregularities in coal scam against the then Coal Secretary, M/s Hindalco, representative of Adita Birla Group, unknown persons and officials," agency spokesperson Kanchan Prasad said.

PTI